Dreams

Another 30 kilometers had passed and by far the worst of it had come, rather than just running down a flat tunnel all the participants had to keep running at the same pace up a gigantic flight of stairs.

"Y-you know guys, I think this is as bad as it gets." Said Mary to the others.

"Hey Mary, in stories, when somebody says that doesn't it get worse?" Asked Killua.

"Y-yeah, but it's ridiculous to think that something like that would happen in real life, right?" Said Mary. [Please let me be right.]

It was good that Mary had predicted this, as in another world perhaps it was as bad as it gets. Unfortunately for this one Satotz had increased his speed further, making the applicants sprint up.

"I-I'm sorry!" Cried out Mary. "B-But how about I make it up? Gon." Said Mary.

"Yeah?"

"W-why don't we all have a race to see who can finish first! S-since you know, last time we had to end it early before a winner was decided."

"Sure. Same penalty as last time, right!?"

"Y-yeah." Mary said with a smile.

"What penalty?" Asked Killua.

"L-loser/loser buys the other's lunch." Gon and Mary said simultaneously.

"Okay then, you two are on!"

"Ready?" Asked Gon.

"3, 2, 1, Go!" Said the three in unison.

[I'm glad they didn't notice that I re-directed them from my earlier mistake.] Mary thought with her face getting slightly red.

"Hey Maaary, don't think I forgot." Whispered Killua with a devious smile on his face.

[Whyyyyy! Why did I have to say that!] thought Mary as her face turned completely red.

———————

Up ahead Leorio and Kurapika could be seen. Leorio specifically was shirtless as he grunted with each step he took.

"Leorio are you ok?" Asked Kurapika.

"Oh yeah!" Leorio answered back. "Same as usual! I realized that I can keep going if I don't worry about how stupid I look!" After saying this he picked up his speed even further.

[maybe I should follow his example] Thought Kurapika while putting away his blue cloak into his satchel.

After catching back up to Leorio, Kurapika said, "Hey Leorio I have a question."

"What is it? Is this just too easy for you, Kurapika? Talking just wastes energy!"

"Are you really trying to become a Hunter just for the money? You aren't, right? We've only been together for a few days but I know you're better than that. Sure, you have a nasty attitude. And you aren't very bright, but you're not shallow. I've seen many who only live for money, and you're nothing like them."

"You and you're logic..." said Leorio in response.

"The Scarlet Eyes. That's why the Kurta were targeted. The Scarlet Eyes are a special trait of the Kurta Clan. Our eyes turn a fiery scarlet when our emotions are heightened. In that state the eyes are considered one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world. In the black market the are worth astonishingly high prices."

"So that's why they attacked your clan? The Phantom Troupe?"

"Every single one, they took every single eye from my brethren's corpses. Even now I can still hear their cries of anguish in their darkened pupils. That's why I swear that I will capture the Phantom Troupe! And I swear that I'll also be the one to recover the eyes of my clan!"

"That's why you want to become a Hunter?"

"Yeah, if I become a contracted Hunter with rich clients, I'll gain access to black market information."

"But you'll have to swallow your pride and become the kind oof Hunter you despise!"

"The blow to my pride is insignificant. Not when compared to the suffering my clan endured."

"Kurapika."

"What?"

"I have a question of my own."

"What is it?"

"its about Mary, I know you saw them too, they turned scarlet right?"

"They did." Kurapika answered while clenching his fists.

"So is she-" before he could finish he was cut off.

"No, she can't be, for starters it was very uncommon that my people ever left our land, and it was even more rare, no impossible, that someone would birth to someone outside our land."

"And if they did?"

"It's impossible, there's no way that could happen, there isn't! There can't..."

[Kurapika] thought Leorio.

"Well either way, sorry, but I have no noble cause like you do. I'm just after money."

"Huh? Don't lie to me Leorio! Especially not after what you just did! Besides do you honestly think that you can buy anything with money?"

"You bet! For the right price you can buy not only treasures, but dreams, hearts, and even people's lives!"

"Take that back! Take it all back Leorio, if you're insulting the Kurta I'll never forgive you!"

"Why should I? I'm telling the truth. If I had had money my friend wouldn't have died!"

Following Leorio's words a short moment of silence occurred.

"Was it an illness?" Asked Kurapika.

"It was a curable disease. But, the problem was that the operation costed a fortune. I was naive! I thought that if I could become a doctor... then, then I could cure kids who have the same disease and be able to tell them it was free of charge! Then, I could have told his parents, too. That was my dream... What a joke. It turns out that to become a doctor, you need an obscene amount of money. Do you understand now?!" Leorio's steps felt heavier as he continued, as tears began to form in his eyes. "This world, it runs on money! That's why, that's why I want money!"

As this bittersweet moment passed by in silence Mary and the other two had already caught up and were now passing them.

"See you at the goal! Kurapika." Said Gon cheerfully.

"Catch you later old man." Said Killua.

Yelling in response Leorio began, "I'm not old! I'm a teenager, just like you guys!"

"Huh?" For the second time everyone was surprised.

"L-Leorio I think that's even more unbelievable than my age." Said Mary.